FUEL is expanding.

In 2013 we launched an Emerging Artist Residency for theatre makers based in the West of Ireland (Galway, Mayo, Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Clare). The programme has been reviewed and revised year-on-year to respond to artists’ needs and suggestions as conditions and ideas change. With support from the Arts Council and St. Anthony’s and Claddagh Credit Union, Druid is now in a position to present a residency programme for theatre artists at all stages of their careers, spanning 10 months, from September 2016 to June 2017.

Artists will be recognised as Associate Artists of the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, and will be mentored, given a stipend of €2,000, office space and assistance developing their idea to a work-in-progress stage. The new programme presents a huge opportunity for those involved in theatre making in the West of Ireland where resources for unfunded companies remain scarce. Previous participants in FUEL have used the opportunity as a springboard, such as Fionnuala Gygax’s ‘Hostel 16’ which will premiere at this year’s Dublin Tiger Fringe Festival, Róisín Stack’s ‘My Poet Dark and Slender’ which sold out at this year’s Galway Theatre Festival, and TheatreRoom founder Luke Morgan, who will make his full length directorial debut at the Town Hall Theatre this month.

Applications open from Thursday 11th August until Thursday 8th September. An application form and further information can be found here.